Auxiliary bracket arm attachment for shadowgraph comparator



Sept. 4, 1956 p BUDNEY EVAL 2,761,352

M. AUXILIARY. BRACKET ARM ATTACHMENT Foa sHAnowGRAFH coMPARAToR Filed April 14, 1954 s" -alfllll INVENTORS HENRY S. BUDNEY MICH/:75L R BUDNEY THAPEl/ h Z//VEY BY MATTHEWE SACZAWA sek/9.

nTToRA/EY 2 Sheets-Sheet l M. P. BUDNEY EI'AL AUXILIARY BRACKET ARM ATTACHMENT FOR SHADOWGRAPH COMPARATOR Sept. 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14, 1954 @y n M SY MENVBA MNDNZ Y wEUwc. E NUBBA N IB S ,PWM m SL S E ,W T v/EcULH i RHDTb//H NHDT CAA HMT United States Patent O Michael P. Budney, Henry S. Budney, and Thaddeus W.

Budney, Newington, and Matthew F. Saczawa, Wetherslield, Conn.

Application April 14, 1954, Serial No. 423,192 7 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) This invention relates to an attachment for a shadowgraph apparatus or comparator, and is directed more particularly to an attachment for holding a ring-shaped object to be inspected in mass production.

In such a shadowgraph apparatus, a beam of light is projected upon a portion of the periphery of the object being examined and the shadow image of its contour is directed through an optical system wherein it is magnified and cast upon a screen for comparison with a translucent master contour superimposed thereon. In view of the heavy weight of many of the objects being examined, it has been found necessary to securely hold them while comparative examination is being made, and in some cases, as with annular or ring-shaped objects, it is necessary that they be rotated to bring them into the proper position.

In order that proper visual examination of such objects can be made without the necessity of relocating the master comparison screen every time the object is moved around, it is necessary to provide some means operative to bring the portion being examined into alignment with the path of the light beam. Heretofore this was done either by hand or with the aid of wooden rear support blocks. Such methods resulted in inecient inspection, and were subject to unbalance and upsetting, especially with heavy objects.

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary support for a ring-shaped article on a comparator that is operative to maintain the article in a level position during inspection by the shadowgraph comparator.

It is another object to provide an auixiliary support of the above nature which is vertically adjustable, and which has an elongated roller for supporting the rear end of said article, whereby different annular objects varying widely in size and diameter may be supported for inspection.

It is another object of the invention to provide an auxiliary support of the above nature which may readily be attached to or removed from the comparator as required.

It is a further object to provide an auxiliary support for a shadowgraph comparator, which is adapted for the rapid inspection of ring-shaped parts in mass production.

Further objects are to provide an apparatus of the above nature which will be easy to install and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance and very etlicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawings one form in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the support arm comprising the invention, as it appears when attached to a shadowgraph comparator with a ring-shaped work piece located in inspection position.

2,761,352 Patented Sept. 4, 1356 Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the support arm illustrating, from a different angle, the mechanism by which it s adjustably secured to the comparator.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the support arm, shown partly in cross-section.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 indicates the shadowgraph apparatus or comparator to which is attached the auxiliary support arm 21 comprising the present invention.

Adjustable attachment means for the support arm 2l is provided, comprising a collar 11 adjustable along a column 12 of the shadowgraph 10, and detachably secured in position by a lock clamp 11a.

The comparator 10 also comprises a bracket 13 lixed to the machine frame thereof and having a side extension 14 forming a second point of attachment for the support arm 21, as will be more fully explained.

The comparator 10 has an electric control panel box 15, and a support frame 16 for an optical apparatus 16a, which is designed to direct a beam of light upon the portion of the article R being inspected, and causing a shadow of an opening in said article to pass through the lens 17. The shadow will then be enlarged and reflected rearwardly so as to be projected on a translucent master plate 18 for comparison with a master contour 47 on said plate. The master plate 18 is supported upon the comparator by a holder 19 and is movable with respect thereto by means of a tine adjustment handle 20.

The auxiliary support arm 21 has a horizontally extending base portion 22 terminating in a horizontal lower clamping lug 23 drilled and tapped for accommodating a plurality of vertical bolts 24, extending upwardly through apertures in a horizontally-extending portion 11b of the collar 11.

The base portion 22 extends into an upwardly-curved central web 25 which terminates in an elongated horlzontal section 27. A pair of opposed ribs 26 are provided along the sides of the base portion 22 and the .central web 25 for strengthening purposes.

The elongated horizontal section 27 has a pair of opposed upstanding end ears 28, 29, drilled to receive a pair of aligned headed pins 30, 31, securely held in place therein by vertical bottom set screws 32, 33 respectively.

A hardened elongated tubular work support roller 36, fitted at its ends with interior needle bearings 34, 35 is journaled between the pins 30, 31 for rotation above the horizontal section 27 of the auxiliary support arm 21. The rear of the ring R rides on the roller 36 while the front end of said ring rests upon an adjustable planar surface S attached to said comparator.

For securely connecting the support arm 2l to the frame of the comparator, a lug 37 extending outwardly from the lefthand side of the central web 25 is provided, said lug being horizontally drilled as at 38 to receive therein the outer end of an inclined support rod 39 having threaded ends 4G and 41. The forward end of the support rod 39 extends through an opening in the side extension 14 of the bracket 13. The support rod 39 is locked to the side extension 14 and to the lug 37 by means of outside lock nuts 42, 43 and inside lock nuts 44, 45 respectively.

Operation The operation of the novel auxiliary support arm is best illustrated in Fig. l. A jet engine shroud ring R having a series of elongated vane slots 46 is shown as the object being supported for inspection. The front end of the ring R is supported upon the planar surfaces and the rear of said ring rides upon the work support roller 36.

Because of the needle bearing journaling, the friction oiered by the roller 36 as the W'ork vpiece R is being turned into proper position for inspection is reduced to a minimum.

Also, because of the great length 'of the vsupport .roller 36, annular objects varying greatly in diameter can be inspected.

While there has been disclosed in this :specification one form in which the invention may be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure, butvmay be modiiied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

l. A support arm attachment for a shadowgraph machine havingV a lens and a light source casting a beam of light into said lens comprising a horizontally-extending base portion, an upwardly-curved central portion integral with one end of said base portion, an elongated horizontal support section integral with the upper end of said central portion and extending from behind said source in the opposite direction with respect to said beam of light, said horizontal lsection being provided at its ends with a pair of upstanding ears, a longitudinal roller, and journal means freely mounting said roller for rotation between said upstanding ears whereby diametrically opposed portions of an annular object to be examined may be located in the path of said beam transversely upon said roller, respectively.

2. The invention as defined in claim l, wherein said journal means comprises a pair of inwardly-extending aligned pins, one secured in each of said ears, and needle bearings mounted in each end of said roller and journaled on each of said pins.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said pins are secured in said `u'pstanding ears by a pair of set screws, one located in each of said ears.

4. The invention as de'iin'ed in claim l, wherein said horizontal base portion and said horizontal support section extend in the same direction. y

5. The invention as defined in claim l, wherein said base and central portions are reinforced by a pair 'of opposed, laterally extending integral ribs.

6. The invention as defined in claim l, wherein means is provided for securing the support arm to a shadowgraph apparatus at two vertically spaced points.

7. The invention as dened in claim 6, wherein one of said securing means rcomprises .a flat lug detachably 'secured to the base of said 'shadowgraph and the cithei securing means comprises a horizontal lug extending from one side of said Central portion, and a vrod having its rear end xed to said lug, the forward end of said frod being adapted to be detachably secured to said shadowgraph apparatus.

457,523 v p 1 Guillet a July 24, 1928 

